Between 2005-2020, 60 farmers participated in the New Entry incubator program.  This infographic shares results of a survey of graduates and farmer focus groups to share information about program outcomes, and successes and challenges for beginning farmers as they transitioned off the incubator program.

This multi-level survey tool is designed to assist IFPs in identifying and evaluating core non-production skills by focusing on outcomes necessary for farmers to run their own farm businesses after graduating from the IFP. NIFTI’s hope is that this specific tool can support your project in providing the best opportunities for success possible for your participants during the time you have with them, and gently guide your project towards measuring a set of core skills that have been determined to be of particular importance to successful commercial farmers. Our vision is that IFP’s can focus their training on core skills that are realistically achievable given time and resource constraints, and work to connect participants with the mentors and communities that will supplement learning on the IFP and support them as they grow.

The calculator tool, also available below, can be used by program staff to aggregate individual farmer responses in order to complete the Incubator Farm Project Report. 

A presentation from the 2015 NIFTI National Field School on Program Evaluation by Dr Noah Ranells of NC A & T State University Cooperative Extension Program and Eugenia Gusev of the International Rescue Committee. 

Program Evaluation, both qualitative and quantitative, is critical to all new farmer training programs. The Most Significant Change technique ( MSC), a qualitative and participatory story driven evaluation methodology will be presented for its use in agriculture development programs across the world. Quantitative evaluation options for training program sustainability and participant entrepreneurial success will also be shared.

Our 2013 World PEAS Food Hub Annual Report provides program statistics about our multi-farmer food hub that sources fruits and vegetables from 30 New Entry beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers. The Food Hub provides food for over 400 families in the Boston and Lowell area, including seniors, low-income and homeless individuals.

The 2014 World PEAS Annual Report provides program statistics about our multi-farmer food hub that sources local, sustainably grown produce from 25 New Entry farmers. The Food Hub provides food for over 500 families in the Boston and Lowell area, including seniors, low-income and homeless individuals.

The NIFTI Guide to Metrics and Evaluation for Farm Incubator Projects provides the staff of land-based beginning farmer training programs with the knowledge, tools, and resources to create rigorous evaluation protocols for their organizations. With suggestions, guidelines, and over 65 pages of appendices including sample surveys, class evaluations, and more, compiled with the help of dozens of farm incubators throughout North America, this guide will help you tell the world all about the amazing and impactful work you do supporting new and beginning farmers.

This webinar will focus on best practices for developing evaluation protocols for your program. Learn from the experts on how to gather data and report on outcomes. We will have presentations from: Jessie Schmidt at the University of Vermont on the “Farmer Assessment Web” tool; Maggie Donin at the Intervale Center; the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association; and NIFTI will launch its brand new resource, “The Metrics and Evaluation Toolkit for Farm Incubators”.

Self evaluation form from the Intervale Center, which asks farmers to report on financial goals, production goals, and organic certification.

Farm report survey from the Intervale Center that asks farmers to report on the 2013 season, including marketing, income, labor, land use, and growing practices.

Beginning farmer survey written by Agricultural Land Based Training Association (ALBA) to confidentially learn how farmers are doing after receiving one year of services from ALBA. Survey includes questions on experience with ALBA, growing practices, and business finances.